So this is a contest? Write on!

It was a dark and stormy night at the huge, imposing mansion, where Count Chauncy Van Dibble was sipping brandy in front of his massive fireplace while the west wind howled outside, summoning the ghosts of past wars who reside in the gloomy madness of the evening mist.

How’s that for writing? Let’s see now, that’s 48 words.

Only 49,952 words to go.

It’s an odd group, these writers who call themselves “Nanos,” and are dedicated to writing 50,000 words in one month. About 20 Greeley residents are part of this strange contest, which has a goal of writing 50,000-word novel in November.

This month, ending today, was National Novel Writing Month, in which thousands of would-be novelists try to write the 50,000 word book.

They must average 1,600 to 1,700 words a day to reach their goal.

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In this contest, there’s no judging of quality. Jared Fiel of Greeley reached his 50,000-word goal Tuesday morning. “If you focus on quality, you won’t get quantity,” Fiel said.

Fiel, who works at Aims College and writes a humor column for the Tribune, has been involved in the contest for years. For three years in a row, he’s written an entire 50,000-word novel in the month of November and received a certificate from the national organization.

And in this area, the group of Greeley writers has challenged the Fort Collins writers to a quantity contest. Each contestant from each city will submit their novel, and the average word production will win.

At this time, Fort Collins is probably in the lead, because one of its writers has already exceeded 100,000 words.

But Fiel and writers including Eric Anderson of Greeley aren’t discouraged.

Anderson, who works in public affairs at State Farm, finished his 50,000 words Tuesday night. Titled “Les Dempsey Tries Again,” it’s a fictional novel about “a guy who lives the ideal life in his head, and it starts to fall apart,” he said.

Anderson has been writing in the November marathon for four years; the past three years, he’s made the 50,000-word goal.

“It’s a matter of cranking out copy,” Anderson said. “You don’t have time to edit … you just write.”

He said he usually starts with an outline for a story, but generally gives it up about halfway through.

The idea started several years ago with a California man who knew that, to write a book, you have to discipline yourself. The Web site, nanowrimo.org, has thousands of hits daily because writers from around the world participate every year.

It was there, in the kitchen near the artichokes, where Count Chauncy Van Dibble first met Lady Musgrave, and their passion overflowed like a shaken bottle of Pepsi. It was there, near the refrigerator, where they first kissed, their lips entwining like peas and carrots in a leftover turkey casserole.